Bowling shoes



y 1, 1962 w. R. LEFFLER 3,031,777

' BOWLING SHOES Filed June 15, 1961 N VEN TOR.

nite rates My invention relates to bowling shoes having the same material for soles for both right and left feet, said soles formed of micro-cellular rubber expanded by use of blowing agents from a solid form to a cellular form and reinforced by an elastomer resin base.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide bowling shoes that have the same material for the soles of the shoes of both right and left feet, thereby eliminating the need of a sole of different material for each foot; to create shoes having the same sole material for each foot and yet which will enable a bowler to control and execute a proper slide as he approaches the foul line; to supply shoes having the same sole material for each foot easing the strain on the legs and saving the stamina of the bowler.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear, and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one of my bowling shoes; FIG. 2 is an outline plan view of the right and left soles and heels of my bowling shoes; FIG. 3 is a detailed cross sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a detailed cross sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a bowling shoe it having a conventional upper foot covering portion 11 and a bottom inner sole 12. To the outer surface of inner sole 12 I attach my outer sole 13 by cement, glue or other suitable adhesive. T o the outer surface of outer sole 13 at its rear portion, I attach by cement, glue or other suitable adhesive a heel 14 of hard rubber.

My outer sole 13 is preferably made of micro-cellular rubber which has been expanded by the use of blowing agents from a solid form to a cellular form. My microcellular rubber is synthetic rubber, but natural rubber may be used. My micro-cellular rubber is preferably reinforced by an elastomer resin, such as a styrene compound. In my micro-cellular rubber, each cell is formed so that it is closed from every other cell. Each cell contains some nitrogen.

I prefer to use a sole of /2 inch in thickness, but may use a sole of from A to /8 of an inch in thickness.

My outer surface of my sole is irregular in having slight indentations.

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Heretofore, in bowling shoes it was necessary to have two different kinds of soles. For a right handed bowler, the shoe on the left foot had a sole made of leather for sliding, while the shoe on the right foot had a sole of hard rubber for braking with a front leather tip. A left handed bowler had similar soles on the reversed feet. Therefore, it was necessary for the manufacturer to have different sliding and braking soles for the two feet. With my shoes, difierent soles and the leather tip are not necessary. Both right and left shoes have the same material soles. The annoyance and economy saved are tremendous.

With the use of the old bowling shoes, control of the feet was difficult, and often blamed for bad bowling. Bowlers would complain that the approaches either were too slippery, or too sticky. My shoes remove these objections, and insure the bowler of secure footing and smooth jolt free slides under all conditions. The soles of my bowling shoes are firm in texture yet have the desired elasticity and permit the bowler to execute a proper slide, and insure him controlled approaches to the foul line. In other words, regardless of the condition of the bowling approaches, slippery or sticky, the bowler is insured of slip free traction in footwork while bowling.

The old conventional bowling shoes caused sore feet, leg strain and premature fatigue. My shoes ease strain on legs, relieve sore burning feet and thereby save the bowlers stamina. Being cushioned as they are, they add spring to the step and lengthen the time a bowler can bowl without tiring.

With my new bowling shoes there is no slipping on bowling approaches, no jolting stops, and less foot and leg fatigue.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

A bowling shoe having the same material for the outer sole of a right or left foot comprising a conventional upper foot covering portion and a bottom inner sole, an outer sole attached to said inner sole, said outer sole formed of expanded micro-cellular rubber with each cell closed and unconnected with any other cell and containing nitrogen and reinforced by an elastorner resin base, said outer sole having a slidable tread surface and controllable by the user to provide a jolt free slide while approaching the foul line in bowling a bowling ball, and a heel attached to said outer sole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,475 Farnan Apr. 13, 1926 2,251,468 Smith Aug. 5, 1941 2,374,487 Jayne Apr. 24, 1945 2,410,019 Davis Oct. 29, 1946 2,581,728 Spack Jan. 8, 1952 2,757,461 Cortnell Aug. 7, 1956 2,822,627 Seiberling Feb. 11, 1958 3,011,272 Goldenberg Dec. 5, 1961 

